Single point release for parachute harness



July 3o, 1946.

L. M. JOHNSTON SINGLE POINT RELEASE FOR PARAGHUTE HARNESS Filed Dee. 15, 1944 l ...Mir

Patented July 30, 1946 SINGLE POINT RELEASE FR PARACHUTE HARNESS Lawrence M. Johnston, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to himself, as trustee Application December 15, 1944, Serial No. 568,256

12 claims. l

The present invention relates to connectors for parachute harness, and its primary object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, fool proof means for holding the ends of the various straps of a parachutists harness, which means will nevertheless be readily and quickly actuable to release all of said straps, whereby the parachutist may instantly divest himself of the harness. Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawi-ng, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawing is illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specic construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is a pla'n of my connector, parts being broken away for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 21s a similar view, the operating disc having been removed;

f Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the connector, taken substantially on the line 3-3 oi Fig, 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the connector, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. is a fragmental section taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1 and looking inthe rection of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental section taken in the piane of Fig. 3 and showing the latch pawl in release position; and

Fig. 'I is a similar section showing the parts in an intermediate position during engagement of a buckle with a hook and pawl.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen that I have illustrated a connector unit which comprises a base element IIJ to the under surface of which is secured a pad I I which may preferably be made of leather. The base member Il) is formed to provide a plurality of perimetrally spaced, upstanding hooks I2, I2', I2, and I2"'.

While four such hooks are illustrated in the present drawing, together with four of each of the parts cooperating with said hooks, it will of course be understood that any suitable number of hook assemblies may be provided, depending upon the particular harness selected for use. Obviously, one hook will be provided for each harness buckle. The base member I0 may further be provided with an eye I3 to which may be permanently connected a lanyard attached to the harness, so that' the connector will not be lost when the harness buckles I4 are disconnected therefrom.

The base member I0 is centrally perforated as at I5 to provide a journal mounting for a rotary stem I6 which carries cam means, indicated generally by the reference numeral II. Said cam means is formed to provide a plurality of cam risers, one for each hook assembly, and indicated generally by the .reference numerals I8, I8', I8, and I8,", disposed generally in a plane normal to the axis of the stem I6, and radiating from said axis. The riser I8 isformed at one end with a high portion I8a, and inclined downwardly toward the base element I0 to a. low portion at its opposite end I8b. Adjacent the end I8b of the riser I8, the same is notched or mutilated, as at I9, for a purpose later to be described. Similarly, the riser I8' declines from its high point I8'a to its low point I8'b which is immediately adjacent a notch IS; the riser I8" declines from its high point I8"a to its low point IBb which is immediately adjacent a notch I9; and the riser I8 declines from its high point I8"'a to its low point I8"'b which is immediately adjacent a notch I9"'.

The upstanding perimetral wall IU of the base element I0 is provided with a plurality of perimetrally spaced bores 20 which are internally threaded at their lower ends for the reception of screws 2| whereby the pad I I is secured to the base element, and for the reception of oppositelyentered screws 22 which penetrate bores formed in a corresponding perimetral wall of a housing element 23, said latter perimetral wall registering with said upstanding wall I0 and preferably, though not necessarily, being rabbeted at 24 to cooperate with the cooperatingly formed upper edge of said wall I0'.

The uppermost surface of the housing element 23 is dished, as at 25, for a reason which will appear, and is centrally formed with a downwardly projecting hub 26 providing a journal support 21 for the stem I6. At peripherally spaced points, said hub 26 is formed'with four downwardly-opening slots 28, etc., and said slots, and their bounding walls, are traversed by bores 29 in which may be mounted pivot pins 3l, all as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The uppermost wall of each of said slots is further provided with a tapped bore 30 for a purpose later to become apparent.

Pivotally mounted upon each pivot pin is a pawl latch, said latches being indicated by the reference numerals 32, 32', 32", and 32". Since these and upwardly inclined surface 34.

3 four latch assemblies are identical, only one has been illustrated in detail, and only one will be described.

The latch pawl is provided at its outer` end with a radially opening socket 33, the outermost boundary of which is defined by an outwardly The cani surface 3dr-is so proportioned and designed that'its outermost point is spaced beyond 'the uppermost surface 31 of the hook I2 yby a distance greater than the radius of the end portion of the bar forming the buckle I4, for areason which will appear hereinafter.

Facing inwardly, the latch pawl 32 is formed with a notch 35 receiving and 'snuglyembrac'ing the cam riser I3. When the latch pawl'32 is inits lowermost position, as illustrated in Fig.`3,`the socket 33 faces, and is guarded by, the inwardly presented face 36 of the hook I2, so that, Aso long a-s the latch 32 is retained in the position of Fig. L'

V3,1the buckle 'I4 cannot possibly Iescape from its imprisonment 'between :the hook surface 36 and the pawl socket 33.

. A screw 38, received in the bore 33, anchors :one end of 'a leaf spring 39, the 'free end `of which 'bears upon the upper surface of the pawl 32, bias- -ing said pawltoward its position illustrated in Fig.. 3. So long as the cam riser I8 is Aengaged .in 'the pawl notch 35, the vposition'of the .pawl is 'enitirel'yicontrolled'by the positioniof the cam i1.

.An operating disc4il 'has 'its hub 4I 'received upon;andrsecured'to,' the outer end Yof the stem I 5, byn'heansfof a screw `42, or the like; and it will 'be itravious :that the cam`I1 is actuatable by said disc h'ou'sngj element 23, reciprocably receives a :plunger-*45 which is urged, by a spring 45, Yout- ,wardly into engagement with the operating disc :45. 'CIn its under surface, the disc 48 is formed i.;

wither;peripherally"extending channel 41; Yand .it will'be obvious that the engagement of the -plunger 45in said channel 41 limits the throw of :the operating disc 4U. When the disc is in the :position illustrated in Fig. l, the 'cam I1 is in the 32, etc., in their positions rmly retaining the buckles I4 against the hooks I2, etc. The disc is provided, at la suitable point, with a radially extending bore 49 which, when the parts are in the vvabove-mentioned positions, registers with a socket'E!! formed in the housing element y32; :and -a .pin 5I is removably received in said bore 49 andisocket 501to hold'theparts in locked-up position.

When the pin 5I is Withdrawn, the disc 4S may be turned, in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, until the right-hand end of the channel '41 engages the plunger 45. That degree of rotation of the disc 49 will shift the cam I1 from its posi- .tion illustrated in Fig. 3 to its position illustrated in.-Fig.6, thereby lifting all of the pawls 32, etc.` to vshift the 4sockets 3'3 thereof into positions in -whchthey are not 'guarded by the hooks I 2, etc. Thus, instantaneously, all of the buckles I4 are released from `the connector, `.and the harness will drop off the parachutists torso instantaneously.

-To vreassemble the organization, it will be clear that it would be possible, with the assistance of one or two other men, to move the `four buckles into the'sockets 33 of the pawls 32, etc., and, holding the buckles in positions like that illustrated in Fig. '6, to return the disc 40, in a counter-clockwise direction, to the position of Fig. 1, lthereby camming the pawls into the position illustrated in Fig. 3. Such an operation, however, would be extremely diiicult for an unassisted operator. It will be noted that the channel 41 is shown, in Fig. l, to have a clockwise extension 52 beyond the position occupied by the plunger 45 in Fig. l. That extension 52 is somewhat shallower than the main body of the channel 41. Therefore, when the disc-40 lis'returned from its release positionfit will'be brought to a stop at the point at which the bore 49 and the socket 58 register. If, now, the end of the pin `5I is pushed through the hole 48 in the disc 40 to `depress the plunger 45 somewhat against the tendency of the spring 46, the counter-clockwise i; movement o'f the dise 40 can be continued until ein vthe vextremity of the channel extension 52 engages the plunger 45.

Such further movement of the disc l0 will shift Athe low points IBD, etc., of the risers I8, etc., beyond the points of engagement in the notches 35 of the pawls 32, etc., and Abring the notches i9, etc., into registry with the 'pawis New, the pawls are 'free ifromwcontro'l 'by the cam, and are held -in their lowermost positions only by the resilient v l .'23. mit the buckle -tolbe venteredfiizifthe socket 1.33, Asocket'44 formed in the perimetralwall of the whereupon'the spring 9 will snap ltliepawl down- .wardly into the :position shown 3. It 'will be clear thatthe'portion ofthe 'pawl 'below'ithe notch 35 will, :during this operation, move upiwardly and ".then downwardly through the notch 19.

lifter all four buckles have 'been .assembled with :the connector in the :above Vdescribed manner., the disc 40 'will be turned, Zin a clockwise Vdi- Y recuen, untilthe plungerld snaps back into `the `position illustrated in Fig. 3, holding the pawls deeper portion of the channel d1. At this point, the bore *59 :and the Aisocket'ttl will register, vand the pin 51 can be inserted there-into to lock vthe 'parts in buckle-retainingpositions.

IA's will lie-'clear 'from an .inspection-'of the-drawing, the peripheral walls 'of the base-element IIl and of the housing element 23 are slotted, as 'at for instance, to lpermit 'fthe projection there- Ythrough o' lthe pawls 32, etc.; and preferably those notches will closely iit the lateral dimensions ofthe p'awls in order to support said lpawls laterally, in 'the manner clearly --shown in Fig. Y'2.

I claim as my invention:

ll. A connector for parachute harness comprising a housing, ia plurality of pawls mounted in said housing upon stationary pivots and having their 4fireezen'ds vlocated at spaced 4points about the perimeter of said housing, cam means 'rotatably mounted in 'said housingand engagingall of said pavvls for `positiv'ely'moving said p'awls 'concurrently in either of .two opposite directions about their resctive pivots, and means for positively locking said cam means against movement.

2. -A connector for ,para-chute harness compris- -ing aplura'lityiof hooks peripherally spaced about -a common-axisreach adapted .to be engaged by `an element of a harness, a plurality of'pawls, each associated `with one of said hooks 'and 'movable into and out of position to engage such harness element and hold the same against disengagement from its hook, a member journalled for movement about said common axis,` and cam means movable with said member and engaging all of said pawls to move said pawls positively and concurrently into and out of such engaging position.

3. A connector for parachute harness comprising a plurality of hooks peripherally spaced about a common axis, eachv adapted to be engaged by an element of a harness, a plurality of pawls, each associated with one of said hooks and movable into and out of position to engage such harness element and hold the same against disengagement from its hook, a member journalled for movement about said common axis, means for locking said member against such movement, and cam means movable with said member and engaging all of said pawls to move said pawls positively and concurrently into and out of such engaging position.

4. A connector for parachute harness comprising a housing, a plurality of pawls mounted in said housing upon stationary pivots and having their free ends located at spaced points about the perimeter of said housing, cam means rotatably mounted in said housing and engaging all of said pawls for positively moving said pawls concurrently in either of two opposite directions, about their respective pivots, means for positively locking said cam means against movement, said cam rneans being mutilated to provide portions clearing said pawls, and releasable means normally limiting movement of said cam means to prevent registration of said clearing portions with said pawls,

5. A connector for parachute harness comprising a plurality of hooks peripherally spaced about a common axis, each adapted to be engaged by an element of a harness, a plurality of pawls, each associated with one of said hooks and movable into and out of position to engage such harness element and hold the same against disengagement from its hook, a member journalled for movement about said common axis, and cam means movable with said member and engaging all of said pawls to move said pawls positively and concurrently into and out of such engaging position, said cam means being mutilated to provide portions clearing said pawls, and releasable means normally limiting movement of said cam means to prevent registration of said clearing portions with said pawls.

6. A connector for parachute harness comprising a base element providing a plurality of hooks peripherally spaced about a common axis, cam means journalled in said base element upon said axis, a housing element fixed to said base element and providing a journal mounting for said cam means, said housing element further providing pivotal mountings for a plurality of pawls, each arranged for cooperation with one of said hooks, said cam means being operatively associated with said pawls to shift the same positively into and out of locking relationship with their respective hooks, and operating means for such cam means located outside said housing element and operatively connected to said cam means.

7. A connector for parachute harness comprising a plurality of hooks radiating from a common axis and each adapted to be engaged by a harness element, a corresponding number of pawls radiating from said axis in vcooperative relation with said respective hooks and mounted for oscillation about separate axes all located in a plane normal to said common axis, and cam means oscillable about said common axis andformed to provide a plurality of peripherally-spaoed identical cam risers, one for each of said pawls, each pawl being formed with a notch opening toward its pivotal axis and receiving one of said cam risers, and each pawl, at one extremity of its path of movement,being adapted to engage a harness element engaging its associated hook to prevent disengagement thereof.

8. The structure recited in claim 7 in which the cam means is mutilated, at one extremity of each cam riser, to provide a portion clearing its pawl, in which spring means cooperates with each pawl to urge the same toward retaining relation with its hook when said clearing portion of the cam means registers with such pawl, and in which each pawl is provided with a camming nose engageable by a harness element, when said clearing portion of the cam means registers with such pawl, to shift such pawl temporarily out of retaining relation with its hook against the tendency of its spring means.

9. In a device of the class described, a base providing a plurality of perimetrally spaced upstanding hooks, a pawl for each of said hooks, each pawl being formed with an outwardly-opening socket and being mounted to swing into and out of a position in which its socket faces and is guarded by the inwardly-presented face of its hook, and cam means journalled on said base and engaging all of said pawls, said cam means being movable in opposite directions to shift said pawls positively and concurrently into and out of such position.

l0. In a device of the class described, a base providing a plurality of perimetrally spaced upstanding hooks, a pawl for each of said hooks, each pawl being formed with an outwardly-opening socket and being mounted to swing into and out of a position in which its socket faces and is guarded by the inwardly-presented face of its hook, the outermost boundary of said socket being inclined outwardly and away from said socket, and lying, when said pawl is in such position, beyond the end surface of its hook, and resilient means normally holding said pawls in such positions.

l1. In a device of the class described, a base providing a plurality of perimetrally spaced upstanding hooks, a .pawl for each of said hooks, each pawl being formed with an outwardly-opening socket and being mounted to swing into and out of a position in which its socket faces and is guarded by the inwardly-presented face of its hook, and cam means journalled on said base and operatively engaging all of said pawls to shift the same positively and concurrently in either of two opposite directions, said pawls, in one position of said cam means being positively held with their sockets positioned beyond the outermost ends of their hooks, in another position of said cam means being positively held with their sockets guarded by said hooks, and in another position of said cam means being free from said cam means, the outermost boundary of each of said pawl sockets being inclined outwardly and away from said socket and lying, when said socket is guarded by its hook, beyond said outermost end of said hook, and resilient means normally holding said pawls in socket-guarded position,

axis of said. stem, said housing being formed with a plurality of peripherallyopening slots through each of which one of said pawls projects into cooperative relation with its hook, operating means outside said housing member xed to said stem, each of said cam members having a positive, two-Way operative connection with one of said paWls, and means for preventing inadvertent movement of. said operating means,

LAWRENCE M. JOHNSTON. 

